With crisp bright white trim you can chose so many colors and they look great. Look at the March 2007 issue of Better Homes and Gardens! Every picture shows white trim with lovely colors. There is NOTHING sacred about brown stained wood grain! It is a hang over from the 70s and 80s and all that This Old House stuff. It is way too gloomy for me. IMHO (since you asked) you will not be sorry for painting it white. I am shopping for a house right now and if the best value we find is a house with brown stained trim, some lucky painter is going to get a job painting it white for me, including the doors!

That said, if I were a guest in your home I would never think less of you for having a mismatched window, I probably would not even notice. So do what pleases you.

Timber Blinds: The Natural Option

Timber blinds provide the perfect opportunity to bring a natural look to any room in your home. A modern way to “go green,” choosing timber blinds as your window covering can transform any room with a feeling of warmth and sophistication. There are many benefits that can be gained through the use of timber blinds, and they are available in a wide variety of colours, woods, and styles to meet the needs of any homeowner. A look at the benefits and style that timber blinds offer, makes it clear why they are the natural option for any home.

Materials and Colours

Obviously timber blinds are made of wood, however you do still have a choice in the materials that make up your timber blinds. Available in many different types of wood, timber blinds still allow consumers to have some say in choosing what is best for their home. The most common type of wood used to make timber blinds is cedar, however basswood, bamboo, and others can be found as well. Each type of wood has its benefits and creates a unique look, so determining which kinds of wood would work best for you is important when choosing timber blinds.

Just like the various types of wood, timber blinds come in a variety of shades as well. From light coloured wood, to dark cherry stained and natural wood, timber blinds can be purchased at a retail location or custom made to match your home. Timber blinds make excellent window treatments by themselves, so choosing a colour that will accent your home is essential. If you plan to place curtains or draperies over your timber blinds, it is best to find a shade of timber blind that will work best for you.

Benefits and Styles

Most timber blinds come in a venetian style, although they are occasionally seen in other styles of blinds such as roller and vertical. Venetian timber blinds provide for full coverage of your window however, and also offer an ease of use not seen in many other styles of timber blinds.

There are many natural benefits of using timber blinds. Since wood is a natural insulator, timber blinds will keep your home cool in the summer and warmer in the winter. Timber blinds also help to block outside disturbances and noise as wood helps to insulate the windows of your home. The warmth and screened light that timber blinds provides is hard to match with any other type of blind, and radiates an air of comfort and elegance.

Unlike vinyl and metal blinds that can bend and become damaged easily timber blinds are very durable and can last you many years if cared for properly. Fabric blinds can often become faded and stained after years of use, but timber blinds that are made with a protective coating keep their shine and colour while remaining fully functional.

Care and Maintenance

Timber blinds do not require an enormous amount of care and maintenance, but they do require some attention to keep them looking their best, and to ensure that they remain functional. If timber blinds are not open and closed often and remain in the same position for an extended period of time, it is important to open and close them every so often to keep them from becoming stiff or stuck.

Every so often timber blinds will need to be dusted. Since they are made of wood, they will collect dust, but a simple swipe with a duster or rag will clear the debris away quickly. Depending on what type of wood or stain was used to make your timber blinds, special care of the wood may periodically be required, such as oiling or cleaning. Checking with the manufacturer of your timber blinds will help you to learn how to properly care for them.

Timber blinds are the natural option when it comes to window coverings, and provide your home with natural benefits and warmth as well. From keeping out noise, to insulating your home and saving you money, the benefits and beauty that timber blinds provide is almost unmatched. Available in a wide variety of woods and colours, timber blinds can be made to match the interior of any home for a natural and elegant look.

About the Author

Kevin Knight, an expert in window blinds, is based in Perth, Australia. With over 25 years experience in the blinds industry, Kevin and his team at Custom Blinds can help you choose the right blinds for your new home: roman blinds, venetian blinds, vertical blinds, timber blinds, roller blinds and much more. Find out more at http://www.CustomBlindsWA.com